Jobseekers Benefit following career break to care for children

Hi,

Hopefully someone can answer this for me. Have looked on www.welfare.ie but can't see the answer.

My wife left her job in 2005 to look after our child full time. We have since had a second child who is now 10 months old. Due to the current economic environment my wife now needs to go back into the job market. However, given that she hasn't made any PRSI contributions since 2005, is she eligible for Job Seekers benefit while she looks for a job. The rules seem quite clear that PRSI contributions have to have been made in the last 2 years to be eligible. Prior to 2005 she was in permanent paid employment for 10 years so will have paid at least 500 monthly contributions.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers

Hi, Hope its ok but I have a question very similar to this I finsihed work Oct 06, went on maternity leave my employer then went bust I got my P45 I was still getting my maternity pay til march 07 would I be entitled to Job seekers allowence?

rk80 said:

Hi, Hope its ok but I have a question very similar to this I finsihed work Oct 06, went on maternity leave my employer then went bust I got my P45 I was still getting my maternity pay til march 07 would I be entitled to Job seekers allowence?

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So you have no contributions or credits since March 2007? If so, and youa re now available for and looking for work, you should go in and make a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance/Credits. Even if you don't satisfy the means test, you should sign for credited contributions in order to preserve future entitlements to benefits and pensions.
Read the keypost at top of this forum.